Folding booth



3 Sheets-Sheet 1, C. ENGERT.

FOLDING BOOTH (No Model.)

Patented May 19, 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. ENGERT. l FOLDING BOOTH.

NO. 560,401. Patented May 19, 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. BNGBRT.

FOLDINGBOOTH. No. 560,401. 7 Patented May 19, 1.896.

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PATENT CHARLES ENGERT, OF BROOKLYN', NEV YORK.

FOLDING BOOTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,401, dated May 19, 1896.

Application filed December 18, 1895. `Serial No. 572,525. (No mo'del.)

To LZZ whom, t may concern.-

Bet known that I, CHARLES ENGERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Booths, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding booths which are adapted for use as voting-booths, bathing-booths, and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved folding booth which is simple in construction, can easily be erected for use and folded compactly for storage, stands firmly when erected, and is not very expensive.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of various parts and details,

as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter and iinally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the iigures, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved folding booth, parts being broken away and the canvas covering omitted. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top braces, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same, parts being in section. Figs. 4 and 5 are side and end views of the caps on the upper ends of the uprights. Fig. (i is a side View of the folding braces. Fig. 7 is a side view of the desk-support. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking upward. Fig. 9 is a view of the under side of the desk, with the supports folded over it. Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the holding-socket on the under side of the desk. Fig. 1l is a perspective view of the socket on the stanchion for the desk-support. Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the booth with the canvas covering. side view of the modified construction of the desk-support and desk, parts being broken away. Fig. lli is a bottom view of the modified construction of the desk, .the stanchions being shown in section. Fig. l5 is a transverse sectional view on the line l5 l5 'of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an elevation showing the hinged desk suspended from the stanchion ready for packing.

The booth is constructed with four corner Fig. 13 is a detaili standards or stanchions A, each provided at its bottom with a foot A', having its bottom slightly tapered or pointed to prevent slipping on the floor. At its upper end each stanchion has a cap A2, provided with two upwardlyprojecting lugs a, through which a bolt b can be passed.

The top of the booth is formed of four diagonal braces B, each provided at its outer end with a metal fitting B', having a hole c, through which the bolt b can be passed, the said fitting being between the lugs d, and at its outer end each fitting B' has a hook B2, from which the canvas covering for the booth can be suspended. A cross-shaped center` piece C has four pairs of wings C at right angles to each other, and between said pairs of Wings the inner ends of the braces B are pivoted in such a manner that they can swing downward only. The wings O of each pair are connected at their outer ends and top edges by a cross-piece C2, which prevents swinging said braces B upward. v

The stanchions A are connected at the front, the sides, and the 'rear by the togglebraces E, the front brace being arranged at the top and the side and rear braces at the bottom. Each toggle-brace is composed of two arms E', pivoted at their outer ends to the lstanchions and at their inner ends to a Y flanged clip E2 below the flange, so as to permit the arms to swing downward, but not upward, the flange of the clip E2 holding them in line., as shown in Fig. l.

For voting-booths a suitable desk F must be provided, and the same consists of a board having rectangular corner-recesses F at the rearcorners for receiving the rear stanchions. The side braces G for supporting the desk are provided at their ends with countersunk clips J, fitting in sockets K on the inner faces of the front and rear stanchions. The side braces G are provided at their rear or inner ends with longitudinal slots G', through which pins L pass into the under side of the desk F. Preferably such slots are formed in extensions J of the rear countersunk clips J. Two

holding-sockets M are attached to the under side of the desk at the front edge. I

In place of making the desk as an entirely detachable piece' it is provided at oneend with a hinge O, of which one leaf is attached IOO to the desk and the other leaf is pivoted by a pivot O to one of the stanchions A, as shown in Figs. 13 to 1G. In this construction the desk-supporting brace G at the hinge need not be provided with the countersunk clip J, but has a slotted metal end piece J 3.

The desk can be raised on the hinge O until in its raised position it rests against the stanehion and then can be swung down on the pivot O' to han g in front of said stanchion, as shown in Fig. 16.

The canvas covering I is provided with eyelets Q at the top, through which the hooks 'i2 on the ends of the top braces B can be passed in such a manner that the canvas covering hangs from the top of the frame. At the center of the front of the booth the two edges of the canvas covering meet and are held together by a strap R. Straps S with buckles are attached to the side of canvas covering.

The booth is erected for use and folded for transportation and storage in the following manner: The four stanchions A are separated as far as the top braces B and side braces E will permit, and said braces are then pressed down at the center joints until they are on a horizontal line, as shown in Fig. 1, and whereby a stiff rectangular frame is formed. The braces G, forming the desk-support, are then applied by passing the countersunk end clips .l into the sockets K on the stanchions and then the desk is pushed to the rear as far as possible, it being guided by the slots G and pins L. When the booth is folded, the braces G rest longitudinally on the under side of the desk, as shown in Fig. 9, and must first be turned ninety deg-rees, so as to bring them into the transverse position, as shown in Fig. 8, the top edges of said braces passing into the sockets M on the under side of the desk. rlhereby the desk is held firmly and securely in a convenient position, as shown in Fig. 1. The canvas covering P is then suspended, by means of the eyes Q, from the hooks B2 on the ends of the braces B, and its edges are connected at the top of the front by means of the strap Q'.

To fold the booth, the canvas covering is iirst removed. Then the desk is pulled to the front and its supporting-braces are lifted off the sockets K, and the said braces are folded lengthwise on the under side of the desk, as shown in Fig. 9. Then the top braces B and side, front, and rear braces E are raised at their hinged or jointed centers, whereby the four stanchions are moved radially toward each other until they are in contact. The desk, with its supports, is then placed on the folded stanchions, and then the canvas covering is wrapped around the folded stanchions, braces, and the desk and the ends of the canvas are secured by the straps S. The bundle thus formed caube transported and stored most conveniently.

In the construction shown in Figs. 13 to 1G, in which the desk is hinged to one of the stanchions, the desk is first raised before folding,the supportin g-braces G are folded lengthwise under the desk, and then the desk is swung down into the position shown in Fig. 1G, the hinge O turning on its pivot O'.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding booth, the combination with four corner-stanchions, having winged caps at their upper ends, of a center piece having four pairs of wings, cross-pieces connecting the top edges of the wings of each pair, braces pivoted at their inner ends between two of said wings and having their outer ends pivoted between the wings on the caps on the stanchions and hinged braces connecting the lower parts of the stanchions, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a folding booth, the combination with corner-stanchions, of hinged braces connecting them at the top, braces at the bottom, removable side braces provided with longitudinal slots, a desk-board resting on said removable side braces and pins passing through the slots in the side braces into the desk and serving for holding the braces on the under side of the desk-board, substantially as herein shown and described.

In a folding booth, the combination with corner-stanchions, of hinged braces connecting them, detachable side braces, each having a longitudinal slot, a desk-board resting on the side braces, a pin passed through each slot into the desk and holding the side braces on the under side of the desk-board, and sockets held on the under side of the desk-board for receiving the upper edge of a side brace, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In a folding booth, the combination with corner-stanchions, of hinged braces connecting them, a desk-board, side braces mounted to slide and swing on the under side of the desk-board and means foi` engaging the ends of said side braces with the corner-stanchions, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In a folding booth, the combination with corner-stanchions of hinged braces connecting them, a desk-board, a hinge attached to the desk-board and pivoted to one of the stanehions and side braces for the stanchions mounted to swing and slide on the under side of the desk-board, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of December, 1895.

CHARLES ENGERT.

IVitnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, N. M. FLANNERY.

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